Product of the Research & Information Support Center (RISC) · religion except Sunni Islam is illegal. Foreigners who proselytize may be deported. Congo (Democratic Republic of) Africa

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The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, or the United States

Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). The presentation was compiled from various open sources and

(U) embassy reporting. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. Publishing or otherwise

distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support.

Proselytizing Abroad: Where is it legal and illegal?

Product of the Research & Information Support Center (RISC)

This document provides a list of countries with official and unofficial prohibitions or restrictions on

proselytizing based on written law and local customs. Note that this list may not be exhaustive and

country laws and customs are subject to change. Information is primarily gathered from the U.S.

Department of State’s 2016 International Religious Freedom Report. This information is provided for

reference purposes only, and is correct as of the date of this publication.

Country Region Legal to Proselytize? Notes on Restrictions

Angola Africa Yes

Benin Africa Yes

Botswana Africa Yes, with limits Missionaries are no longer granted long-term residency permits, and are permitted to stay 90 days.

Burkina Faso Africa Yes

Burundi Africa Yes

Cabo Verde Africa Yes

Cameroon Africa Yes

Central African Republic Africa Yes

Chad Africa Yes, with limits The president of High Council for Islamic Affairs has the authority to restrict Muslim groups from proselytizing.

Comoros Africa No Proselytizing for any religion except Sunni Islam is illegal. Foreigners who proselytize may be deported.

Congo (Democratic Republic of)

Africa Yes

Congo (Republic of) Africa Yes

Cote d’Ivoire Africa Yes

Djibouti Africa Yes, with limits In practice, groups proselytize on private property rather than in public. Societal norms discourage conversion from Islam.

Equatorial Guinea Africa Yes

Eritrea Africa No

Ethiopia Africa Yes

Gabon Africa Yes

Gambia Africa Yes

Ghana Africa Yes

Guinea Africa Yes

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/





Guinea-Bissau Africa Yes

Kenya Africa Yes

Lesotho Africa Yes

Liberia Africa Yes

Madagascar Africa Yes

Malawi Africa Yes

Mali Africa Yes

Mauritania Africa Yes, with limits There is no specific legal prohibition against non-Muslims proselytizing. In practice, the government may prohibit such activity through a broad interpretation of the constitution stating that Islam shall be the religion of the people and of the state.

Mauritius Africa Yes, with limits While there are no explicit restrictions in place, there are unofficial limits on the overall number of missionaries per religious group who are issued the requisite visas and work permits. The government continues to limit the number of foreign missionaries permitted in the country.

Mozambique Africa Yes

Namibia Africa Yes

Niger Africa Yes, with limits The government prohibits public proselytization for all religious groups due to safety concerns. There is no restriction on private peaceful proselytizing.

Nigeria Africa Yes

Rwanda Africa Yes

Sao Tome and Principe Africa Yes

Senegal Africa Yes

Seychelles Africa Yes

Sierra Leone Africa Yes

Somalia Africa No Proselytizing for any religion except Islam is prohibited.

South Africa Africa Yes

South Sudan Africa Yes





Sudan Africa No The government criminalizes proselytizing and conversion from Islam to another faith.

Swaziland Africa Yes

Tanzania Africa Yes

Togo Africa Yes

Uganda Africa Yes

Zambia Africa Yes

Zimbabwe Africa Yes

Australia East Asia and Pacific Yes

Brunei East Asia and Pacific No The government enforces restrictions on non-Muslim proselytization or individuals with no religious affiliation.

Burma East Asia and Pacific No The government discourages proselytizing by non-Buddhist groups. The government has not allowed permanent foreign religious groups to operate in the country since the mid-1960s when it expelled nearly all foreign missionaries.

Cambodia East Asia and Pacific No The law formally bans non-Buddhist groups from door-to door proselytizing. However, some religious groups do proselytize without facing arrest.

China East Asia and Pacific No New religious affairs regulations, amending the ones from 2005, come into effect in February 2018. Groups or individuals interested in proselytizing in China should carefully review these regulations before commencing their activities. There could be criminal penalties imposed upon foreigners for violations of these or other provisions designed to control or prohibit proselytization by





foreigners.

Fiji East Asia and Pacific Yes, with limits Proselytizing on government premises or at government functions is prohibited.

Indonesia East Asia and Pacific No The law specifically bans proselytizing by Ahmadiyya Muslims. Violations on proselytizing carry a maximum five-year prison sentence on charges of blasphemy.

Japan East Asia and Pacific Yes

Kiribati East Asia and Pacific Yes

Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of)

East Asia and Pacific No Due to mounting concerns over the serious risk of arbitrary arrest and long-term detention in North Korea, the Secretary has authorized a Geographic Travel Restriction on the use of a U.S. passport to travel in, through, or to North Korea.

Korea (Republic of) East Asia and Pacific Yes

Laos East Asia and Pacific Yes

Malaysia East Asia and Pacific Yes, with limits The law forbids non-Muslims from proselytizing Muslims. The law does support Muslims proselytizing others.

Marshall Islands East Asia and Pacific Yes

Micronesia East Asia and Pacific Yes

Mongolia East Asia and Pacific Yes

Nauru East Asia and Pacific Yes

New Zealand East Asia and Pacific Yes

Palau East Asia and Pacific Yes

Papua New Guinea East Asia and Pacific Yes

Philippines East Asia and Pacific Yes

Samoa East Asia and Pacific Yes

Singapore East Asia and Pacific Yes, with limits Missionaries from the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Unification Church are not permitted to work, publish, or distribute religious texts.

Solomon Islands East Asia and Pacific Yes

Taiwan East Asia and Pacific Yes

Thailand East Asia and Pacific Yes





Timor-Leste East Asia and Pacific Yes

Tonga East Asia and Pacific Yes

Tuvalu East Asia and Pacific Yes, with limits Some islands such as Falekaupule have formal and informal bans on proselytizing.

Vanuatu East Asia and Pacific Yes

Vietnam East Asia and Pacific No Nearly all religious activities require registration and approval by the local government according to laws that are unevenly applies. Government treatment of foreigners seeking to worship or proselytize varies in practice from locality to locality.

Albania Europe Yes

Andorra Europe Yes

Armenia Europe No The law prohibits, but does not define, “soul hunting,” a term describing both proselytism and forced conversion. Some groups do proselytize there. Most Christian groups keep a low profile.

Austria Europe Yes

Azerbaijan Europe Yes, with severe limits The law states, “[c]arrying out religious propaganda by foreigners or persons without citizenship shall be prohibited.” The law specifies the government may dissolve religious organizations if they proselytize in a way which “degrades human dignity”; hinder secular education; and other reasons. In June the law was amended to allow foreigners invited by registered religious groups to conduct religious services. The government uses registration





restrictions to control proselytization by nontraditional groups and foreign religious actors, and restricts or controls distribution of many religious materials used for proselytization.

Belarus Europe Yes, with limits The law prohibits importing religious materials without a positive conclusion from the state’s theological examination, and defines rules for registration of permitted religious organizations. Membership in an unregistered religious organization is penalized by a two-year term of imprisonment.

Belgium Europe Yes

Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe Yes

Bulgaria Europe Yes, with limits Some municipalities have adopted local regulations that restrict proselytizing.

Croatia Europe Yes

Cyprus Europe Yes

Czech Republic Europe Yes

Denmark Europe Yes

Estonia Europe Yes

Finland Europe Yes

France Europe Yes

Georgia Europe Yes, with limits The law states that public schools may not be used for purposes of religious indoctrination or proselytizing. The constitution prohibits “compelling anyone to express his or her opinion about religion” but the law provides for the “right to choose and change religious affiliation.”

Germany Europe Yes

Greece Europe No The constitution prohibits proselytizing, as well as





blasphemy and religious insults. Violators are subject to criminal prosecution.

Hungary Europe Yes

Iceland Europe Yes

Ireland Europe Yes

Italy Europe Yes

Kosovo Europe Yes

Latvia Europe Yes, with limits The law stipulates that foreign missionaries may be issued a residency permit, hold meetings, and proselytize only if invited by a registered domestic religious group.

Liechtenstein Europe Yes

Lithuania Europe Yes

Luxembourg Europe Yes

Macedonia Europe Yes

Malta Europe Yes

Moldova Europe Yes, with limits Moldova’s Law on Freedom of Conscience, Thought and Religion article 4.4 forbids excessive proselytizing, i.e., by coercion. In addition, the Code on Misdemeanors penalizes insulting the religious feelings of others. It also bans religious activities by foreign citizens in public areas without prior notice to local authorities.

Monaco Europe Yes

Montenegro Europe Yes

Netherlands Europe Yes

Norway Europe Yes

Poland Europe Yes

Portugal Europe Yes

Romania Europe Yes

Russia Europe No In 2016, a new anti-terrorism law specifically regulates missionary activities in Russia, the types of materials that can be used by missionaries, and the admission of





missionaries to the country.

San Marino Europe Yes

Serbia Europe Yes

Slovak Republic Europe Yes

Slovenia Europe Yes

Spain Europe Yes

Sweden Europe Yes

Switzerland Europe Yes

Turkey Europe No

Ukraine Europe Yes

United Kingdom Europe Yes

Algeria Near East No Proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims is a crime.

Bahrain Near East No

Egypt Near East No The government generally permits foreign religious workers in the country on the condition that they do not proselytize to Muslims. Non-Muslim minorities and foreign religious workers generally refrain from proselytizing to Muslims to avoid risking legal penalties and extralegal repercussions from authorities and members of the local community.

Iran Near East No The penal code specifies the death sentence for proselytizing and attempts by non-Muslims to convert Muslims, as well as for “moharabeh” (enmity against God) and saab al-nabi (insulting the prophet). The law prohibits Muslim citizens from changing or renouncing their religious beliefs.

Iraq Near East No

Israel Near East Yes, with limits Religious groups may proselytize on the condition that the individual is at least 18 years of age, and no





material benefits are offered.

Jordan Near East No Individuals who proselytize Muslims may be prosecuted in the State Security Court under the penal code’s provisions against “inciting sectarian conflict” or “harming the national unity.” Both these offenses are punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine of up to 50 JD (US $71).

Kuwait Near East No

Lebanon Near East Yes, with limits There is no law banning proselytizing; however such activities are discouraged by the local community.

Libya Near East No There is no law prohibiting proselytizing, but regional governments have taken actions against individuals proselytizing to Muslims.

Morocco Near East No The criminal code prohibits attempts by non-Muslims to “shake the faith” of citizens from Sunni Islam and punishes anyone who “employs enticements” to undermine the faith of a Muslim or to convert a Muslim to another religion with six months to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams (US $20 to $51).

Oman Near East No

Palestinian Territories Near East No

Qatar Near East No The law criminalizes proselytizing on behalf of any religion other than Islam with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

Saudi Arabia Near East No

Syria Near East No





Tunisia Near East Yes, with limits Although there is no law prohibiting proselytizing, it is discouraged by local communities.

United Arab Emirates Near East No

Western Sahara Near East No

Yemen Near East No

Afghanistan South and Central Asia No

Bangladesh South and Central Asia No

Bhutan South and Central Asia No

India South and Central Asia Yes, with limits Laws on proselytizing vary state to state. There are laws restricting religious conversion in seven of the 29 states: Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Six of these

states enforce the laws.

Kazakhstan South and Central Asia Yes, with limits The law prohibits methods of proselytizing that take advantage of a potential convert’s dependence on charity. The law also prohibits blackmail, violence or the threat of violence, or the use of material threats to coerce participation in religious activities. The law also bans religious or proselytizing activities in children’s holiday, sport, creative or other leisure organizations, camps, or sanatoria.

Kyrgyz Republic South and Central Asia Yes, with limits The law prohibits the involvement of minors in organized proselytizing religious groups, “insistent attempts to convert followers from one religion to another,” and “illegal missionary activity,” defined as missionary activity of





groups not registered with the State Commission on Religious Affairs.

Maldives South and Central Asia No Proselytizing to change denominations within Islam is illegal and punishable by two to five years in jail or house arrest, depending on the gravity of the offense. If the offender is a foreigner, his or her license to preach in the country will be revoked, and he or she will be deported. Proselytizing to Muslims by adherents of other religions is illegal, and the penalty is the same as for intra-Islamic proselytizing.

Nepal South and Central Asia No On August 8, 2017 the parliament passed a new criminal code, which reduces the punishment for converting – or encouraging the conversion of – the religion of another person or for engaging in any act, including the propagating of religion, that undermines the religion, faith, or belief of any caste, ethnic group, or community, from six years to five years’ imprisonment. The law will take effect in August 2018. It also stipulates a fine of up to Nepali Rupees (NRs) 50,000 (US $500) and subjects foreign nationals convicted of these crimes to deportation. The new criminal code also imposes punishments of up to two years’





imprisonment and a fine of up to NRs 20,000 (US $200) for harming the religious sentiment of any caste, ethnic community, or class, either in speech or writing.

Pakistan South and Central Asia Yes, with limits The government permits non-Muslim missionary activity and to allow missionaries to proselytize as long as they did not preach against Islam and they acknowledged they are not Muslim. The penal code bans Ahmadis from preaching or propagating their religious beliefs or proselytizing. The punishment for violation of these provisions is imprisonment for up to three years and a fine.

Sri Lanka South and Central Asia Yes, with limits While non-Buddhist religious groups maintain the right to incorporate through an act of parliament, the parliament has limited their ability to proselytize based on a 2003 Supreme Court ruling stating the right to propagate a religion through proselytization was not fundamental under the constitution.

Tajikistan South and Central Asia No While the constitution and other laws do not expressly prohibit proselytizing, civil society members note that it is socially unacceptable for Muslims to convert to other religions and individuals or groups that proselytize to faiths other than Islam are harassed.

Turkmenistan South and Central Asia No Proselytizing is punishable





as an administrative offense by fines ranging from 100-1,000 Manat (US $28-286), with higher fines for religious leaders and lower fines for lay members.

Uzbekistan South and Central Asia No The law punishes proselytism with up to three years in prison.

Argentina North and South America Yes

Bahamas North and South America Yes

Barbados North and South America Yes

Belize North and South America Yes

Bolivia North and South America Yes

Brazil North and South America Yes

Canada North and South America Yes

Chile North and South America Yes

Colombia North and South America Yes, with limits The Government permits proselytizing among the indigenous population provided it is welcome and does not induce members of indigenous communities to adopt changes that endanger their survival on traditional lands.

Costa Rica North and South America Yes

Cuba North and South America Yes, with limits The Cuban Constitution allows religious activities provided they don’t act against the political regime or infringe the law. All travelers must still abide by OFAC regulations for travel to Cuba. See the Department of Treasury webpage.

Dominica North and South America Yes

Dominican Republic North and South America Yes, with limits Non-Catholic missionaries and religious leaders said they still could not obtain visas under the same immigration category as Catholic religious leaders, which non-Catholic groups said made it more expensive and difficult to





bring missionaries to the country.

Ecuador North and South America Yes, with limits A private gated community near Guayaquil banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from proselytizing within the community. Two courts upheld the community’s right to do so. The Jehovah’s Witnesses filed for protection before the constitutional court, which had not accepted the case as of the end of the year.

El Salvador North and South America Yes Foreign religious groups must obtain special residence visas for religious activities and may not proselytize while on visitor or tourist visas.

Grenada North and South America Yes

Guatemala North and South America Yes

Guyana North and South America Yes Foreign religious workers require a visa from the Ministry of Citizenship. Religious groups seeking to enter Amerindian villages for the purpose of proselytizing must apply for and obtain the permission from the village council.

Haiti North and South America Yes

Honduras North and South America Yes The government requires foreign missionaries to obtain entry and residence permits, and mandates a local institution or individual sponsor a missionary’s application for residency and submit it to immigration authorities. Groups with whom the government does not have written agreements





are required to provide proof of employment and income for their missionaries.

Jamaica North and South America Yes

Mexico North and South America Yes There are reports that religious minority groups coming from outside the community to proselytize being discriminated by the local community.

Nicaragua North and South America Yes Missionaries must obtain religious worker visas and provide information regarding the nature of their missionary work before the Ministry of Interior will authorize entry into the country. There have been reports of religious groups facing stricter scrutiny from Nicaraguan authorities. Nineteen foreigners have reportedly been expelled from Nicaragua since 2010, including environmental activists, journalists and academics. The Nicaraguan government said the visitors did not receive official permission to carry out their research or other activities while in-country. Advanced coordination is encouraged for religious groups. Multiple OSAC constituents have successfully coordinated travel via the Embassy of Nicaragua in Washington, DC.

Panama North and South America Yes

Paraguay North and South America Yes

Peru North and South America Yes

Saint Kitts and Nevis North and South America Yes

Saint Lucia North and South America Yes

Saint Vincent and the North and South America Yes

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mailto:[email protected]





Grenadines

Suriname North and South America Yes

Trinidad and Tobago North and South America Yes, with limits The government’s national security policy continued to limit the number of long-term foreign missionaries to 35 per registered religious group at any given time.

Uruguay North and South America Yes

Venezuela North and South America Yes

Documents

Product of the Research & Information Support Center (RISC) · religion except Sunni Islam is illegal. Foreigners who proselytize may be deported. Congo (Democratic Republic of) Africa